Success Makanjuola is confident that the Flying Eagles will be a much improved team when they take on their Round of 16 opponents at the ongoing 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, reports Completesports.com.
The Flying Eagles will face either Italy or Senegal in the Round of 16 after emerging as one of the four best third-placed team in the group stages of the tournament.
The Flying Eagles held Ukraine to a 1-1 draw in their last Group D to finish third on four points. Ukraine won the group with seven points, while USA finished second on six points. Qatar placed fourth without any point.
Danyle Sikan put Ukraine ahead in Bielsko-Biala on Thursday after 30 minutes but Muhamed Tijani drew the Flying Eagles level in the 51st minuten from spot kick.
“I was very happy when I was named in the starting line up by the coach. Paul Aigbogun told me to go into the pitch and showcase my talent to the world and I had no chance but to justify my inclusion,” Makanjuola who was named the man-of-the-match said during his post-match interview.
“We were determined to win, but unfortunately, we didn’t get it right in the final third.
“We are ready to take on any team in this knockout stage. It will be tough, but I must admit we are capable.”
By Johnny Edward
7 Comments
We will keep our fingers crossed ,it’s obvious that the team is awful and lacks talents, I anycase am it expecting much from u guys after watching the 3 matches and seeing how u struggled in the last two games. Offia is a total flop and disgrace, lest I forget I must apologize to coach genart rohr for criticizing him for using idowu in return W. C instead of utin d captain of the under 20,the guy is total disgrace and lacks football intelligence.i pray we don’t meet Italy cos it will be a total humiliation,i prefer Senegal, so that both teams will be pushing and punching each other for 90 mins. I rest my case.
Poland 2010??? Hahahaha… Anyways, I will prefer Senegal to Italy bcos I don’t think they will have upper hand against us in this encounter…
Instruct the boys on accurate passes.the game against Ukraine was very good, but the game against USA was very poor
Please anytime Nigerian team makes a promise to perform better they end up messing up. I beg kindly zip your mouths and do the talking on pitch. Makanjuola you have won my heart so far in the strangest of ways.
Funny how the team dominated Ukraine, in terms of possession, number of passes, passing accuracy, shots on goal, corner kicks, but is still described as “struggled”.
Senegal has been our nemesis in African football. They have beaten us in Under 17, under 20, beach football and are not number one in Africa for nothing. I’d rather face Italy.
The team also has talent across the pitch. Igho Ogbu Nnamdi Oforboh, Tom Dele-Bashiru,Anikeme Okon and Success Makanjuola are notable talents and have performed creditably well.
The only match we played below par, was the match against the USA where we were outclassed by a superior side.
In all we played two very good games where we were the better side and one poor game, we need toput thisinto perspective. This is afterall, the world cup and were have qualified for the next round. Something the senior team failed to do and something that we could not even qualify for (the world cup) just two years ago with the under 17s and the under 20s
When did Senegal became our nemesis? is it just the recent few loses?, go and check the past results. Any time they host a competition, Nigeria always beat them at home, what are you talking about?. They lost to Nigeria twice at home as host of African u-21 tournament in 2015 (opening game and final). They should be scared of Nigeria not the other way round.
Why Senegal vs Nigeria ? This’s ridiculous !